St Michael's through to final

St Michael's Lurgan 1-7

Carrickmacross 0-8

ST Michael’s are back in the MacLarnon final again for the first time since their last success in 2003.

They were made to work very hard for their victory in an enthralling semi-final played in heavy conditions in Burren, Co. Down.

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The difference between the teams was a well worked goal 10 minutes into the second half which was finished clinically by Niall McConville and followed up by a point from the reliable boot of Thomas McAlinden. The Monaghan school, not for a want of trying, just could not breach a solid defence unit to claw back the deficit.

It was Carrickmacross who started brightest and were 0-2 to no score ahead after five minutes but the Lurgan school didn’t panic and scored five points without reply in the next 20 minutes and should have had a few more such was their dominance.

Three pointed frees from Sarsfields pair Chris McGaughey (2) and Thomas McAlinden steadied the ship and further scores from Niall McConville and another McGaughey free left the score 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

The next 15 minutes were to swing the contest in the Lurgan school’s favour when, despite Carrickmacross getting the first score of the second half, they put the foot down.

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A great pass from Barry Seeley found Niall McConville who rounded his man with ease and finished confidently to the net. Another great long ball from McGaughey found McAlinden and he curled the ball over to push St Michael’s ahead by five and even though the Monaghan school didn’t give in they could not fashion the goalscoring opportunity that was needed.

St Michael’s soaked up the pressure and Conleth McAlinden picked off a nice score over his head having caught an attempted shot from a McGaughey free-kick. A couple of late scores from Carrickmacross left the final score, 1-7 to 0-8.

St Michael’s defence did not give much away all day. Stephen Magee was many spectators’ man of the match with a string of interceptions and high fielding.

Brendan McCarron, Sean ONeill, Aaron Toland, Ruairi McCaughley, Andrew Nugent and the covering Barry Seeley all played superbly as a unit and with the introduction of James Doyle adding further steel into that area Carrickmacross were finding scores hard to come by.

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In attack Thomas McAlinden and Niall McConville were looking dangerous anytime they got the ball but all too often in the second half the ball into them was cut out by a covering defender.

The midfield pairing of Niall McCann and Aaron Findon worked very hard all day. At times the half forward line found themselves very deep and had then too much ground to make up to support the front men but along with the midfield they plugged away and worked their socks off for the team. All in all the best team won but St Michael’s will hope for a better scoring return in the final.

The final will take place on St Patrick’s Day with a big travelling support hoped for from Lurgan.